Amadi roots for partnership to expand legal representation to Kenyans
Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Anne Amadi has called on organisations to partner with the Judiciary to expand legal aid to Kenyans.
Speaking at the First National Conference on Legal Aid organised by Egerton University School of Law, in Elementaita, Amadi who was the Chief Guest, said that although the right to legal representation is enshrined in law, professional legal representation remains prohibitively expensive for many Kenyans who interact with courts.
She said threats to lack of legal information or representation is a concern that is shared by millions of ordinary Kenyans whose genuine legal claims remain unpursued.
“Our doors remain open to any organisation with solid proposals on partnership to expand legal aid to the people of Kenya,” she said.
Amadi said that an uninformed and unrepresented person may altogether abandon what would otherwise be a strong claim, and continue to suffer great injustice in silence.
She added that self-representation by an average citizen could greatly undermine an otherwise strong case, because litigants are often unable to effectively navigate the justice system.
“They may not be able to ask the right questions to witnesses, identify and exploit gaps in the case presented by the opposing side.
They may be intimidated by the formality of the courts, the technical legal language, among others,” she said.
“I am grateful to the civil society for filling this gap over the years, by offering legal advice and representation to litigants in both civil and criminal cases,” Amadi said.
She also commended the Faculty of Law Legal Aid Project at Egerton University that was established to facilitate enhanced access to justice. -– KNA
